For 75-year-old American physicist Yuen-Ron Shen, life has been a series of plane rides between his American laboratory in Berkeley and China.

"I used to help many Chinese researchers in the field of science and technology seek work or study opportunities in America in the 80s," he told China Daily yesterday in Beijing.
 
"But increasing numbers of overseas Chinese have begun to consult me about how to work in China," he said.

He was in Beijing for the presentation ceremony to receive the 2009 International Science and Technology Cooperation Award yesterday.

The award is conferred on foreigners or foreign organizations that have made important contributions to China's science and technological undertaking and development.

Other winners include: Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker of Germany, Michel Che of France, Arima Akito of Japan, Agustin Lage Davila of Cuba, and Britton Chance and Vincent Chan of the United States.

"It is my honor to play a role to bridge China with America in the field of science and technology," Shen said yesterday.

Thanks to his efforts, personnel exchanges and high-edge technological cooperation have dramatically raised the country's academic standing and influence in optics and condensed matter physics.

As a member of the National Academy of Sciences in the US and a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he specializes in the research of nonlinear optics, laser spectroscopy, surface science and condensed matter physics.

In his laboratory in Berkeley, he has guided more than 40 visiting scholars and doctoral students from China.

He was born in Shanghai and left for Taiwan with his family when he was young.

"My information about the mainland's science and technology situation was a piece of blank paper before I revisited China in 1972," he recalled.

He was the youngest among 11 Chinese scientists with American nationality in a special group visiting China during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

"I was deeply impressed by Chinese researchers' desire to communicate with the outside world at that time," he said.

Shen has been active in science and technological cooperation with China since the reform and opening-up policy started in the late 70s.

"'Hard-working' has always been the impression of Chinese researchers in the eyes of my American colleagues," he said.

"I hope my efforts on personnel exchanges and international cooperation can help more Chinese researchers to show the world a new image in regard to their creative ability," he said.

He noted that the "relatively relaxed laboratory atmosphere" and "adequate research funding" were the main reasons luring Chinese talent to America in past years.

"But the American government's budget on science and technology is being reduced in the face of the economic crisis, while the Chinese government's investment has been increasing dramatically in recent years," he said.

He also said that the talent pool began coming back to China due to the government's favorable policies for attracting overseas high-level talent.

For example, the 1,000-Elite Program provides a flexible way for many American Chinese to work in China, he said.

"They could work for no less than 6 months in China every year, and that allows them to take care of their family abroad," he said.

The Central Coordination Group for Talent Work was set up in 2008 for the implementation of its 1,000-Elite Program. People who have earned their doctor's degree in foreign countries and are younger than 55 are eligible for the program. The government set aside a one-time subsidy of 1 million yuan per person to attract talent.

The government also provided a series of specific living conditions in regard to living allowances for their spouses and the education of children.

Apart from the 1,000-Elite Program, China also encourages and supports overseas high-level talent to return to work in China through the Cheung Kong Scholars Program of the Ministry of Education, the Hundred-talent Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as similar programs of other sectors, provinces, regions and municipalities.
 

（www.eduwo.com, Anna）